Construction executive, son killed when SUV hits truck on turnpike

Friends on Thursday were mourning the loss of a southwest Orange County father and son killed Wednesday in a crash on Florida's Turnpike.

Steven Miguel, 58, a construction-management executive, was driving south in south Osceola County about 12:50 p.m. with his son, Zachary, 19, when the accident occurred.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Miguel's Chevrolet sport utility vehicle drifted onto the shoulder and hit the back of a disabled tractor-trailer.

Miguel, who designed and developed restaurants and spent 17 years with the Walt Disney Co., and Zach were trapped in the SUV and died at the scene.

The truck driver, John Laflamme, had pulled to the side of the road to fix a flat tire about a mile north of Yeehaw Junction, said Sgt. Kim Montes, a Florida Highway Patrol spokeswoman.

Laflamme, 62, of Clermont was not hurt.

Bill Freeman, who worked with Miguel at Disney in Southern California, said Miguel's career included a stint as executive director of worldwide development and facilities maintenance for Hard Rock Cafe International.

During his time at Disney, Miguel was vice president of facilities development for Disney Regional Entertainment, where he oversaw the construction of ESPN Zone, Disney Quest and Club Disney. He also worked as a construction executive with Disney World Resorts.

About five years ago, Miguel founded Design 2 Keys, a Central Florida company that Freeman said designed and developed restaurants.

"Steve was one of those genuinely great guys that care about other people," said Freeman, who developed Fox Sports Grill with Miguel in California.

"It wasn't about business. It was about relationships."

Miguel leaves a wife, Tina, and a daughter and a grandchild in Boston, Freeman said.